Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

740.00119 E.W./9–244: Telegram

The Chargé to the Greek Government in Exile (Shantz) to the Secretary of State

Cairo, September 2, 1944—8 p.m.
[Received September 3—6:15 p.m.]

Greek 283. My 276, September 1, 1 p.m. [a.m.].⁵⁴ In reply received last night Prime Minister, after reviewing Bulgaria’s special relationship to Greece and latter’s demands against them (see my Greek 264, August 26, 4 p.m.) and stating that “announcement of armistice with Bulgaria which does not merely include the unconditional surrender has aroused amongst the Greek people the deepest alarm and dismay,” advises that, while Greece does not wish to obstruct the policy of the great Allies to shorten the war Greece believes following amendments should be made to draft terms more fully to protect rights of Greece:

(1) Article IV, insert after “territory” the phrase “and to occupy parts of it”.

(2) Article V, add phrase “and to surrender in due time to the Allies her war material”.

(3) Article VI, add a second sentence “the cost of subsistence, repatriation and reestablishment in their former homes of the Allied populations which have been in whatever manner moved away from them as a result of Bulgarian occupation to be charged up on Bulgaria.”

(4) Article X, insert after “damage” the phrase “caused either by the regular army, by irregular or by private individuals.”

(5) Article XII add “or for the needs of the population of the Allied districts occupied by Bulgaria”.

(6) Article XIII, insert “territorial or others” after word “requirements”.

(7) Add as article XIV, “Bulgaria to replace Bulgarian currency in the hands of Allied citizens established in districts occupied by her, with its corresponding value in gold or sound foreign currency, the parity of Bulgaria specie being calculated on the basis of its value at the time of the Bulgarian invasion.”

The Prime Minister also attached a list of “elucidations” concerning the various armistice terms as follows (in broken order for security purposes):

(4) Greece considers indispensable to state that in order to secure full safety of her territories from any future Bulgarian covetousness she must obtain, in due time, the extension of her frontiers as far as the line Rila–Moussalaa–Evros.

(2) According to the amended formula of article IV, it is understood that in due time and as soon as military conditions will allow it, the Allies will proceed to the complete occupation of Bulgarian territory.

In view of her particular position with regards to Bulgaria, Greece wishes that the temporary occupation of the regions south of the Balkans should devolve upon her, in due time.

(3) According to the provisions of article IV concerning the disarmament of Bulgaria, Greece, who was totally disarmed by her enemies, demands that half the total Bulgarian armaments should be conceded to her in good condition.

(1) It is understood in article III that the Bulgarian forces, officials and nationals, who will depart from the Allied territories at present under occupation, will carry away with them solely their personal belongings and that Bulgaria will be held responsible for indemnities for any other asset that would be abducted from Allied territories.

At noon today Ambassador Leeper⁵⁵ addressed a note for delivery to Papandreou at Alexandria giving “explanations which, he hopes, will satisfy the Prime Minister” that the points he raises are either “in fact covered by the existing terms or are not appropriate for inclusion in the armistice but in the peace treaty”. After explaining that unconditional surrender merely means Allies can impose conditions while enemy is precluded from putting conditions on its side, Leeper states that draft terms contain necessary stipulations for giving effect to armistice and article XIII provides for imposition of any further requirements deemed necessary including occupation of Bulgarian territory if desired, surrender of war materials, cost of subsistence, repatriation et cetera of displaced Allied populations, reparations for war damage of all kinds, the needs of the population of the Allied districts occupied by Bulgaria, territorial requirements (“details regarding which are of course a matter for the peace treaty and not the armistice terms”) and currency requirements. Leeper concludes that in circumstances he earnestly hopes Greek Government will not press for any modification of armistice terms as this would inevitably involve delay in conclusion of the armistice and the consequent withdrawal of Bulgarian forces from Greek territory.

The “elucidations” communicated by Prime Minister have, Leeper adds, been duly noted by British representative charged to conduct discussions with Bulgarian delegates.

Full texts of these communications will be transmitted by despatch.⁵⁶

I have not replied to Prime Minister pending latter’s further response to Leeper.

Repeated to Caserta as No. 42; to London as 21, to Moscow.

Shantz

54. Not printed; it reported presentation of draft terms of Bulgarian armistice to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (740.00119EW/9–144).
55. Reginald W. A. Leeper, British Ambassador to the Greek Government in Exile, at Cairo.
56. Despatch 214, September 7, not printed.